The Milton Margai Technical University has on Saturday 12 March 2022, graduated over 1000 students of the 2015-2021 academic years at the Peace and Love Amphitheatre Goderich Campus.
Addressing the congregation, the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Milton Margai Technical University, Prof Philip John Kanu, welcomed dignitaries present and implored all to express gratitude to the government of President Brig Rtd Dr. Julius Maada Bio for transforming the institution due to his stodge leadership and desire for education in order to improve the human capital development.
He commended the present government for the critical role it played in the transformations and implored all to be good to those that have been good to them.
He thanked the honorable Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof Alpha Tejan Wurie, for the support he had continued to give to the institution, describing the numerous roles he had played since the institution was a Polytechnic unto its transformation into a university noting that the history of the institution would never be completed without him.
Explaining the state of the institution, the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, noted that there is a lot of expectation since assuming university status, to deliver on those hopes.
He disclosed that five strategic objectives have been developed by the institution as a pillar for smooth execution of its mandates. One of those pillars is to ensure access and relevance by supporting the middle-level manpower in the country as a Technical University.
The Principal noted the introduction of short courses that cater for people who are without university qualification but have skills which could be refined to help the society.
He spoke about the creation of businesses by the institution to address the area of financial sustainability. He encouraged lecturers to engage in writing proposals for support, the establishment of strong quality assurance and processes, the research topics developed that the institution is working on to address the needs of the society, external connection with institutions, the staff capacity to upgrade the lecturers through peer coaching and internal teaching.
He made known the number of professors, Doctorates, Masters and undergraduate Degree holders within the institution and those in pursuit of the same noting that many senior professors have consented to give support to the institution.
The Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal thanked the University of Sierra Leone and Njala University for providing a capacity expansion to the institution.
He registered that, the institution under the university status matriculated over 2500 students showing its expansion, creating the enabling environment for students. He further noted that a grant of One Million Dollars had been provided through the education sector project by the government for the rehabilitation and construction of the buildings within the three campuses, adding that the institution is also working on the road leading to the Congo Cross campus, reaffirming that the institution is going to have an Auditorium, Amphitheatre, a Senate Building, modern classrooms, hostels and staff quarters, stating that after the project, the problem of infrastructure will be history in the three campuses.
He thanked the American Government for their support towards the institution by providing a Fulbright Scholar to support staff and students through capacity building in the Tourism Sector and other areas.
He talked about the online application and an active website that hub the activities and information about the university, a well-equipped laboratory to complement the area of sciences.
Speaking on the challenges, the Principal, registered the encroachment and grabbing of the institution’s land which he pleaded with Minister Wurie to help mediate and the issue of the Polytechnic Staff.
He urged the graduands to reflect on their achievements over the years of their academic journey and implored them to be exceptional and represent this country well describing the ceremony as an Academic Ritual which they have fulfilled.
“Today we are gathered as a collection of scholars and friends, family and faculty, staff and supporters to celebrate achievement, recognize success, and to confirm well-earned honors to well-deserving clients,” the chancellor of the University, Dr. Victor E. A Kabbia noted as he welcomed all present describing the day as a historic one, he urged graduands to continue to build on the collection of memories acquired from the institution, noting that in life, it is one thing to have learned something but it is another altogether to remember it.
He encouraged all graduands to move a little away from the reliance on technological devices to continue building on their memories as one should go beyond the ordinary memory.
He asked them to also become decision-makers as people for far too long have been playing that role on their behalf.
He furthered that their time in the institution was an investment in themselves and what they can bring to the world and implored them to develop their own stories.
The Chancellor ended by noting that the institution would forever remained to be proud of them and encouraged all to be part of the Alumni Association to help in the development of the institution.
The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof Alpha Tejan Wurie, in his statement, thanked everyone present and exalted the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Philip John Kanu for his indelible contribution in transforming the institution, describing the graduands as triumphant for the successful completion of their studies.
Minister Wurie noted that the world was changing rapidly thus the job market also required different competencies and asked lecturers and students to shift to be in line with the new normal as the society was sourcing for critical thinkers and problem solvers stating that, as a Technical University they have to put a premium on practical rather than theory as it is reflective of a graduates of a Technical University.
He thanked the President for his immense support in addressing the human capital development of the country.
Prof Wurie, continued by reaffirming the government’s endless support to the institution, noting that in September this year, the civil works will start with the sum of $17 Million for the rehabilitation and construction of buildings in the University adding that, the President, Brig Rtd Dr. Julius Maada Bio, had also consented for grant-in-aid to be given to lecturers with MS.c’s to be upgraded to Ph.D.’s and the first batch will be enrolled this year into Universities within Sierra Leone and in any African University.
He ended by stating the need for every region to have a higher learning institution due to the Free Quality Education introduced by the New Direction Government noting that, the quest for education was going to increase drastically.
Earlier, the Acting Vice-Principal and Director of Academic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, in his welcome address recognized all for gracing the ceremony noting that, it was nearly sixty years and this was the first time the institution was conferring Degrees, Certificates and Diploma’s on students by its own Chancellor, stating that it was a dream come true for which the institution was grateful, especially to all those who helped to make it a success.
Dr. Jalloh, noted that amidst all the congregations the institution had had, this was different in many ways.
He added that in the last three years the institution had witnessed tremendous transformation which is glaring by recognizing the steady work of the Chancellor and the Acting Vice Chancellor for their contributions in refining the institution.
He further noted that the successes and achievements could be attained and sustained if they remained united and supportive to each other.
He ended by congratulating the hard work and perseverance of graduands for a well-deserved achievement and wished them all the best urging them to contribute to the development of Sierra Leone.
The occasion was climaxed by the conferment of Degrees by the Chancellor and award of Diplomas and Certificates by the Director of NCTVA.
The Vote of thanks was given by Mrs. Allie and the University anthem was sung to mark the closing of the occasion.
